King Me!

Fishing in Alaska anyone? This is what it's all about...BIG KINGS! At the time my then boyfriend, now husband told me that we would be fishing for 50-60lb King Salmon. At the time I thought he was crazy, considering the biggest salmon I had caught at that time was a 24lb King out of Lake MI. So we traveled to the Goodnews River Lodge in Goodnews Bay Alaska, population 230. This place is amazingly peaceful with nothing surrounding you but pure nature. Cell phones? Don't even think about it, because you are far from civilization. The bear and moose tracks will clarify.

As we were fishing the river one morning I was entertaining myself by singing "here fishy, fishy". I soon stated that I wanted to change my lure and being female picked out a nice bright lure called a "magnum wiggle wart". My now husband and our guide laughed and tried to explain that this lure was not going to catch anything with the conditions of that day. Being my stubborn self them telling me no only encourage me more so they agreed to change the lure trying to appease me.

As the guys continued to harass me about my unknowladgeable pick I decided to keep the intensity up by saying, "I'll bet you that the next rod that hits will be mine and it's going to be a huge KING!" They continued to laugh and said we'll take that bet and $10! Less than 5 minutes later the next rod to hit was mine and I had caught my very first 45lb KING Salmon!! The biggest fish we caught our whole trip! This is no fish tale check out the pic below to prove it!

 

8 Safety Precautions Before Traveling Outside the US

Before you travel check off your safety list first! It's better to be safe than sorry!

(Google Images)

1.) Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: This is a FREE online service that will help the State Department contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.

2.) Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information:

3.) Make Copies: Have multiple copies of your passport data page, itinerary and credit cards that you are carrying. Also make sure to leave copies at home with family or friends, in case of an emergency.

4.) Phone Numbers & Country Calling Codes: Makes sure you know the calling code to the US if needing to make calls back home. Also make sure you have the following phone numbers programed into your cell phones and copied in multiple places.

•   US Embassies in every country you'll be traveling to
•   Credit card cancellation numbers in case you credit cards have been stolen or compromised
•   Hotel phone numbers

5.) Insurance: Verify with your insurance company overseas coverage for any possible situation including evacuation.

6.) Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

7.) Credit Cards: Contact your credit card company to tell them the dates you will be out of the country and which countries you'll be in during those time periods. Most credit card companies will put a hold on your credit card if they see multiple charges from places you're not normally in. They see it as fraud. Also check with them on your overseas currency exchange fees. All credit cards charge you a fee for using your card outside the US for having to convert the exchange rates. The fees are usually between 2-3%.

8.) Social Media: Don't tweet, post, blog or make any other reference to the dates and times that you will be away from your home on any public site. Don't inform others outside your close family and friends or your travel arrangements. Letting the world know you are away from your home is asking for trouble!

For further details on the above information or more safety tips visit the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

Top 5 Adventures in Costa Rica!

 "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, Kill nothing but time" -Arenal Observatory Lodge

1.) Arenal Volcano: As you travel through Costa Rica make sure to stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge and wake up to this amazing view outside your room! If you're as fortunate as I was you may even see the volcano spouting out some bright red lava at night.

2.) Zip-Line Tour: Take the Sky Trek with 11 cables. The longest line running over a mile long and over 600 feet above ground. Check out this video for a taste of the adventure ahead

3.) Waterfall Rappelling: Enjoy a great travel experience with Pure Trek Canyoning as you rappel down four waterfalls, one almost 200 feet high! If you don't believe me check out the video!

4.) Fortuna Waterfall: Hike down a strenuous 1/4 mile to one of the most beautiful falls in Costa Rica towering 200 feet. Don't forget your suit because no waterfall adventure is complete with out a dip under the falls!

5.) Rio Celeste: This is best kept secret of Costa Rica! Legend says that after painting the sky, God washed his paintbrushes in the Rio Celeste. As you hike the trails through the rain-forest make sure to stop and take a dip in the natural hot springs and view the "Blue Lagoon". As you continue on you'll reach the Rio Celeste Waterfall unique with it's turquoise water which is the result of chemical reactions of volcanic minerals. A sight you'll never forget! Make sure to take a guide, for this 3 hour hike can be pretty intense, directions aren't clear and large animals are lurking about.

(Google Images)

Lobster Etiquette

Last month I traveled to Maine with my mom for a mother daughter trip.  This destination is one that we’ve always wanted to visit. Our top things to accomplish on this trip were; eat fresh lobster, drive the coast, see whales in the wild, and tour the beautiful scenery. As we drove the cost we made several stops along the way taking in the unique towns. We began our journey in Portland, continuing on to Freeport, Georgetown, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, and Camden. If you’ve never been to Maine let me tell you it is beautiful. Its atmosphere is much like northern Michigan with its fresh air and greenery.

As they say, “When in Rome do as Romans do”. Well I thought that having lobster at a lobster shack on the wharf would be a great way to experience Maine's culture. It was at Harraseeket Lobster Shack in South Freeport that we were caught off guard and out of our element.

 

As we approached the outdoor ordering window we agreed to each have 2 large lobsters with a side of corn. As we placed our order the women asked, “Cooked or alive?” “COOKED” we said in unison. As we waited to pay the women took two large lobsters from their holding tank and placed them on the scale in front of us, (STILL ALIVE) and preceded to tell us the cost as she threw them into the boiling water!

As we waited for our lobster we both reveled how seeing your lobster alive before you’re about to eat it lowered your hunger level substantially. Soon our order was up. As we proceeded to crack open our meal, the reality came fast. These lobsters had not been cleaned! Their insides and bowels were still inside spewing onto our plates! Talk about losing your appetite! My mother and I stared at each other in shock as the common sense started to set in...”What were we thinking”! Of course if you boil something live there would be no chance to clean it first! Quickly my mom got up to ask if this is how they normally come. The women informed her that to order a lobster that has already been cleaned, and cooked is called, “The Lazy Man’s Lobster”.  The lazy man lobster could be ordered at any local restaurant. “Good to know”, my mom said and returned to throw our $65 meal in the trash. From that point on in our adventure through Maine we ordered the lazy man lobster and although we visited a few more lobster shacks, we only stopped to take pictures.

Memories

Pictures are a must when traveling. They can retell a great adventure over and over again. Besides photos what are other ways you can remember a trip? Some people collect shot glasses, t-shirts, key chains, magnets and so on. The list of souvenirs is endless. The problem with these souvenirs is that they're not useful! How many key chains can you really have? Also, where do you keep all of these trinkets?

Through my travels I've decided to be intentional on my purchases. The trip alone costs enough to where souvenirs seem to be a waste of money with no real connection or memory of the trip itself. So if I make a purchase I try to buy something that is authentic and hand made from that particular area. It's usually something that I can display in my home or a piece of jewelry. For example when I was traveling through Bulgaria we stopped in one the country’s oldest towns, Koprivshtitsa and it was there that I purchased my one and only souvenir, a handmade ceramic bowl. This bowl now resides on a table in the foyer of my home. It is a lovely piece of artwork and brings back wonderful memories of great old town I once had the opportunity to wonder.

Another idea, which may seem typical but is very affordable, is a postcard. The catch is, don't send the postcard to a relative or friend, but send it to yourself! Send it towards the end of your trip when you can highlight on all the wonderful things you've just experienced. This not only allows you to reminisce by going back and viewing all your different travels but can act as a collection as well for each postcard that you send will contain a stamp of that country! As you start to collect these put them in a small scrap book and in time you will find it to be a diary of sorts and a story of a lifetime that will be a keepsake forever!

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Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Ashley and I will be your tour guide through many new adventures around the world. I encourage you all to participate by sharing your own travel experiences, post recommendations on must see places and things to do and use this blog as encouragement to book that next trip!